Roger Federer out of Wimbledon after five-set loss to Kevin Anderson

Top dogs face Wimbledon Centre Court dilemma

Rita Gibson
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11 July, 2018, 22:15

The world's No. 2 ranked player was up 5-4 in the third set and had match point before the eighth-seeded Anderson rallied back to level the sets with a 7-5 victory in the third and winning 6-4 in the fourth set.

Anderson is vying for his first-ever semifinal appearance at Wimbledon, but is 0-4 in his career against the eight-time Wimbledon champion.

But he found himself in even more unfamiliar territory with an inspired Anderson's relentless, thudding serve eventually overpowering the 20-time grand slam victor.

But he lost his rhythm at the start of the second set as Anderson made his move.

Any thought of the third being an anomaly was soon put to bed by Anderson in the fourth, a scorching forehand return giving him two break points.

Federer was the heavy favourite to lift a record ninth title at the All England Club but struggled to make a dent in the Anderson serve, with the eighth seed playing the match of his life.

Djokovic wrested back the momentum for good after coming from 0-40 down at 2-2 in the third set to hold serve, and then breaking his Japanese opponent in the next game. But that turned out to be the least of his worries.

Even by Federer's stratospheric standards, the first set was a little absurd.

Roger Federer's Wimbledon title defence is over following a dramatic five-set quarterfinal loss to an inspired Kevin Anderson on Wednesday (Thursday NZ Time).

The three-time Wimbledon champion was broken in the opening game of the fourth set, but won the next four games and broke again to clinch victory.

The final set lasted 90 minutes, and it was captivating stuff.

Federer won the first meeting 6-4, 6-4 at the Paris Masters indoor hard-court event in 2013; he won 7-5, 6-1 at Indian Wells in 2014; 6-3, 7-5 on the clay in Rome in 2015 and 6-1, 6-1 in Cincinnati later that year.

But this time Federer cracked, serving his first double fault at 11-11 to give Anderson the crucial break that ushered the Swiss legend to the exit door.

World number one Nadal faces a tricky test against power-hitter del Potro in his first Wimbledon quarter-final since 2011.

"Down two sets to love I tried my best to keep fighting".

"I don't know why Del Potro shouldn't think he has a great chance", Wilander said. "Beating Roger Federer here at Wimbledon will definitely be one that I remember - especially in such a close match".

"I just kept telling myself to keep believing and that today it would be my day, that's the mindset you need against someone like Roger".

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